From Strength to Strength (Psalm 84)

You and I are called to a holy pursuit: the pursuit of friendship with God. Our goal? The closest possible relationship we can have with the Lord, even on this side of eternity. This is the center from which our lives and His Kingdom flow.

The Lord alone satisfies. As wants for success, love, and contentment surface in your life, keep this truth in mind. This truth is key to our pursuit of Jesus.

When we know worldly pursuits will never satisfy, we will more readily refuse to seek other things to meet our God-given longings. We will resolve within ourselves to stay steady on a pilgrimage of pursuit after God’s heart.

“Blessed is the man whose strength is in You,Whose heart is set on pilgrimage.“Psalm 84:5 (NKJV)

At times the yearning within your heart may make itself known with impatience and neediness as you say no to worldly ways, fleshly lust, and selfish pride. But simply remind your soul: Jesus is worth every self denial. He is worth the weeping, the aching, the waiting.

Keep going and don’t give up. Keep saying “yes” to this pilgrimage day by day, even through the failures and temptations. Get back up again and reset your face upon Jesus.

Jesus alone is worth the weeping, the aching, the waiting.

As you pass through the Valleys of Weeping, His heart and ways will have increased worth to you above all else. You will surely taste and see of His goodness as His love falls upon you like winds of refreshing.

“Passing through the Valley of Weeping (Baca),they make it a place of springs;
the early rain also fills [the pools] with blessings.
They go from strength to strength [increasing in victorious power];
each of them appears before God in Zion.“Psalm 84:6-7(AMPC)

As you awaken to more and more of the Lord’s presence in your spirit, you will know more and more that He alone brings hope, joy and fulfillment.

You shall come to know more and more that a day with the Lord is better than a thousand anywhere else (Psalm 84:10).

In the pursuit of God and His ways, walking in love, purity and truth, you will go from strength to strength. He sees your faithfulness in the small and the large. Some days may seem like backward steps, but you will continue to go from glory to glory if you do not give up (2 Corinthians 3:18).

If you ever feel like giving up, or that the waiting has become too much, don’t quit. You shall surely know that the Lord gives grace as you call upon His help. He always comes through, though it may not be in the way we think He will.

He is a faithful God who promises to complete the work He has begun in you (Philippians 1:6). His love will continually spur you on in a deeper in relationship with Him as you go from strength to strength.

The Valley of Weeping will transform into a place of blessing, springing forth with His resurrection life. Feed on His faithfulness and stay steady on the pilgrimage after His heart, beloved. Know that,

“The Lord bestows grace and favor and honor; No good thing will He withhold from those who walk uprightly.“